Acupuncture to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric oncology - a randomized multicenter crossover pilot trial.
BACKGROUND
We investigated whether acupuncture as a supportive antiemetic approach reduces the need for antiemetic rescue medication during highly emetogenic chemotherapy in pediatric oncology. We report on a multicenter crossover study at 5 tertiary hospitals in Germany.


METHODS
Twenty-three children (13.6 y,+/- 2.9) receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy for treatment of solid malignant tumors were included. Patients were randomly allocated to receive acupuncture treatment during either the second or third identical chemotherapy course together with standard antiemetic medication. The main outcome measure was the amount of additional antiemetic medication during chemotherapy. Secondary outcome measure was the number of episodes of vomiting per course.


RESULTS
Fourty-six chemotherapy courses with or without acupuncture were compared. The need for rescue antiemetic medication was significantly lower in acupuncture courses compared to control courses (p=0.001) Episodes of vomiting per course were also significantly lower in courses with acupuncture (p=0.01). Except for pain from needling (4/23) no side effects occurred. Patients acceptance of acupuncture was high.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture as applied here seems to be effective in preventing nausea and vomiting in pediatric cancer patients.
Gottschling
S
S
Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany. kisgot@uniklinikum-saarland.de
Reindl
T K
TK
Meyer
S
S
Berrang
J
J
Henze
G
G
Graeber
S
S
Ong
M F
MF
Graf
N
N
D026881:Acupuncture; D000293:Adolescent; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*
D000932:Antiemetics